Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Foz do Iguaçu Cost of Living Comparison Between Medellin and Foz do Iguaçu

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,034 per month in Medellin vs $756 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,577 per month in Medellin vs $1,146 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,120 per month in Medellin vs $1,535 in Foz do Iguaçu, rent included.

Medellin costs about 37% more than Foz do Iguaçu, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Medellin and Foz do Iguaçu are more affordable than the global median – Medellin 23% lower, Foz do Iguaçu 44% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 COP 21.4K

$5.36 R$26.76

10.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$32.75 COP 118.2K

$36.29 R$181

-9.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.20 COP 26.0K

$6.35 R$31.70

13.39%

Cappuccino

$1.70 COP 6,140

$1.48 R$7.39

14.86%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.10 COP 3,966

$1.15 R$5.74

-4.35%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.72 COP 2,605

$0.35 R$1.74

105.71%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.67 COP 6,022

$1.11 R$5.52

50.45%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.10 COP 11.2K

$2.78 R$13.86

11.51%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.06 COP 3,809

$0.78 R$3.89

35.90%

White Bread (500g)

$1.25 COP 4,497

$1.31 R$6.53

-4.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.39 COP 5,022

$1.52 R$7.57

-8.55%

Eggs

$2.26 COP 8,168

$2.42 R$12.09

-6.61%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$4.33 COP 15.6K

$7.51 R$37.47

-42.34%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.84 COP 21.1K

$3.58 R$17.88

63.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 COP 31.9K

$7.61 R$37.98

16.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.24 COP 8,099

$1.96 R$9.76

14.29%

Banana (1kg)

$1.08 COP 3,882

$1.11 R$5.54

-2.70%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.53 COP 5,522

$0.91 R$4.55

68.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.37 COP 4,950

$1.06 R$5.28

29.25%

Potato (1kg)

$1.13 COP 4,078

$0.86 R$4.28

31.40%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 COP 4,036

$1.02 R$5.11

9.80%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.85 COP 3,057

$0.78 R$3.88

8.97%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.91 COP 3,281

$0.80 R$3.99

13.75%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.33 COP 8,414

$2.66 R$13.25

-12.41%

Wine (Bottle)

$11.13 COP 40.2K

$8.06 R$40.23

38.09%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 COP 4,309

$1.70 R$8.48

-30.00%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.37 COP 8,553

$2.72 R$13.55

-12.87%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.79 COP 2,838

$0.89 R$4.43

-11.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$41.13 COP 148.5K

$38.04 R$190

8.12%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 COP 5,184

$1.07 R$5.32

34.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.91 COP 6,901

$0.76 R$3.81

151.32%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.02 COP 28.9K

$6.28 R$31.35

27.71%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.94 COP 3,385

$0.93 R$4.67

1.08%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$17.9K COP 64.7M

$20.9K R$104.4K

-14.37%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$26.8K COP 96.7M

$27.6K R$138.0K

-3.09%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$84.0 COP 303.1K

$62.6 R$313

34.04%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.60 COP 34.7K

$17.44 R$87.0

-44.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$24.16 COP 87.2K

$18.42 R$91.9

31.16%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.88 COP 93.4K

$17.96 R$89.6

44.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.04 COP 68.7K

$21.35 R$107

-10.82%

Cinema Ticket

$3.92 COP 14.1K

$8.29 R$41.35

-52.71%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$306 COP 1.1M

$220 R$1,096

39.50%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,919 COP 21.4M

$6,532 R$32.6K

-9.40%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$57.9 COP 209.1K

$41.97 R$209

37.98%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$31.82 COP 114.9K

$16.01 R$79.9

98.75%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$99.9 COP 360.6K

$44.96 R$224

122.20%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$107 COP 386.8K

$35.33 R$176

203.26%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$487 COP 1.8M

$295 R$1,473

64.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 COP 1.3M

$234 R$1,165

57.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$826 COP 3.0M

$543 R$2,707

52.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 COP 2.6M

$356 R$1,776

101.21%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,925 COP 10.6M

$1,299 R$6,482

125.18%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,407 COP 5.1M

$927 R$4,625

51.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$546 COP 2.0M

$406 R$2,025

34.42%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

13.43

10.92

22.99%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Medellin: April 27, 2026

Last update for Foz do Iguaçu: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $487 in Medellin versus $295 in Foz do Iguaçu. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 34% higher in Medellin, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $33.00 in Medellin versus $36.00 in Foz do Iguaçu. Groceries tell a different story – $190 in Medellin vs $173 in Foz do Iguaçu – so Foz do Iguaçu wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Medellin vs Foz do Iguaçu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,034 in Medellin, $756 in Foz do Iguaçu – roughly 37% apart. Medellin costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,550 per month in Medellin and $1,134 in Foz do Iguaçu. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Foz do Iguaçu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $306 per month in Medellin and $220 in Foz do Iguaçu. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 10% more in Medellin, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Foz do Iguaçu, where all-in costs run around $756, than in Medellin at $1,034. In Foz do Iguaçu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Medellin it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Medellin has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $756 in Foz do Iguaçu to $1,034 in Medellin. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Foz do Iguaçu. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Medellin makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.